--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What I absorbed from autobiographies was…" description: "\"What I absorbed from autobiographies was not how to be great so much as the littleness of the great.\" — Miles Franklin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/480/miles-franklin-17083_autobiographies_what-i-absorbed-from-autobiographies-was_454239.jpg" --- # What I absorbed from autobiographies was not how to be… ![“What I absorbed from autobiographies was not how to be great so much as the littleness of the great.” quote by Miles Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/480/miles-franklin-17083_autobiographies_what-i-absorbed-from-autobiographies-was_454239.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/480/miles-franklin-17083_autobiographies_what-i-absorbed-from-autobiographies-was_454239.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/480/miles-franklin-17083_autobiographies_what-i-absorbed-from-autobiographies-was_454239.jpg) > “What I absorbed from autobiographies was not how to be great so much as the littleness of the great.” [Miles Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-franklin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Autobiographies reveal not how to achieve greatness, but how even the great are fundamentally small and vulnerable. **In simple terms:** Great people are still small and vulnerable. Key Takeaway Recognize humility in success. Themes humility vulnerability greatness Mood contemplative thoughtful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - leadership coaching - personal development - historical study Key Concepts human nature ego self-perception Questions to Reflect On - What does humility teach about success? - How can we honor ordinary experiences? A Different Perspective Focusing on greatness can obscure everyday struggles. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absorbed Autobiographies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absorbed-autobiographies-3958367/) [Autobiographies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autobiographies/) [Autobiographies Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autobiographies-great-2922934/) [Autobiography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autobiography/) [Great Littleness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-littleness-2093335/) [Littleness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littleness/) ## Related quotes > [I think that, for me, the great books like that, autobiographies, are great when the artists who write them throw caution to the wind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-trunk/i-think-that-for-me-the-great-books-like-that-autobiographies-are/) [Eddie Trunk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-trunk/) > [If you take the autobiographies of great sports people, they are almost always the same. They start with zero; they are always ambitious, know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petr-cech/if-you-take-the-autobiographies-of-great-sports-people-they-are/) [Petr Cech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petr-cech/) > [There is no man so great as not to have some littleness more predominant than all his greatness. Our virtues are the dupes, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/there-is-no-man-so-great-as-not-to-have-some-littleness-more/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [I had several publishers, and they were all the same. They all wanted salacious. And everybody is writing autobiographies, and that's one reason why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-pallenberg/i-had-several-publishers-and-they-were-all-the-same-they-all-wanted/) [Anita Pallenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-pallenberg/) > [Autobiographies ought to begin with Chapter Two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellery-sedgwick/autobiographies-ought-to-begin-with-chapter-two/) [Ellery Sedgwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellery-sedgwick/) > [“Autobiographies are always written as if the author had it all mapped out with perfect foresight, ignoring the risks and uncertainties at that time.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghuram-g-rajan/autobiographies-are-always-written-as-if-the-author-had-it-all-mapped/) [Raghuram G. Rajan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghuram-g-rajan/) > [I will read biographies or autobiographies while I'm writing, but mostly I put books in a to-read queue, like Rachel Cusk's new novel, "Outline."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/i-will-read-biographies-or-autobiographies-while-i-m-writing-but/) [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) > [“Listen: I don't have anything against autobiographies, so long as the writer has a penis that's twelve inches long when erect. So long as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-bola-o/listen-i-don-t-have-anything-against-autobiographies-so-long-as-the/) [Roberto Bolaño](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-bola-o/) > [Our bodies are apt to be our autobiographies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/our-bodies-are-apt-to-be-our-autobiographies/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I love memoirs and autobiographies in general.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-davern/i-love-memoirs-and-autobiographies-in-general/) [Brett Davern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-davern/) > [I don't want to know about my biggest idols. I don't want to read their autobiographies, I don't want to find out what they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-want-to-know-about-my-biggest-idols-i-don-t-want-to-read/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It's so embarrassing to think that someone is actually interested in what you're thinking. And in that regard, it's almost unbelievable that autobiographies are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oddn-eir/it-s-so-embarrassing-to-think-that-someone-is-actually-interested-in/) [Oddný Eir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oddn-eir/) > [“I knew that if I allowed fear to overtake me, my journey was doomed. Fear, to a great extent, is born of a story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-strayed/i-knew-that-if-i-allowed-fear-to-overtake-me-my-journey-was-doomed-2/) [Cheryl Strayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-strayed/) > ['Walking and Talking' is my autobiography. It's best to do it that way, rather than spend months writing a book that then ends up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-burke/walking-and-talking-is-my-autobiography-it-s-best-to-do-it-that-way/) [Kathy Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-burke/) > [I like to read. Autobiographies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-jackson/i-like-to-read-autobiographies/) [Janet Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-jackson/) ## More by Miles Franklin > [... no problem except old age ever vanquished my mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-franklin/no-problem-except-old-age-ever-vanquished-my-mother/) [Miles Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-franklin/) > [I'm sure it's not any wish of mine that I'm born with inclinations for better things. If I could be born again, and had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-franklin/i-m-sure-it-s-not-any-wish-of-mine-that-i-m-born-with-inclinations/) [Miles Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-franklin/) > [It's a sign of your own worth sometimes if you are hated by the right people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-franklin/it-s-a-sign-of-your-own-worth-sometimes-if-you-are-hated-by-the-right/) [Miles Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-franklin/) > [If the souls of lives were voiced in music, there are some that none but a great organ could express, others the clash of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-franklin/if-the-souls-of-lives-were-voiced-in-music-there-are-some-that-none/) [Miles Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-franklin/) > [Cowards always drag in the Bible to back theirselves up far more than proper people does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-franklin/cowards-always-drag-in-the-bible-to-back-theirselves-up-far-more-than/) [Miles Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-franklin/) > [the way to wean any one from a desire is not by condemnation of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-franklin/the-way-to-wean-any-one-from-a-desire-is-not-by-condemnation-of-it/) [Miles Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-franklin/) > [In the career of a prodigy there invariably comes a time when it is compelled to relinquish being very clever for a child, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-franklin/in-the-career-of-a-prodigy-there-invariably-comes-a-time-when-it-is/) [Miles Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-franklin/) > [Ah, the bitter, hopeless heart-hunger of godlessness none but an atheist can understand!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-franklin/ah-the-bitter-hopeless-heart-hunger-of-godlessness-none-but-an/) [Miles Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-franklin/) > [When all is said and done, friendship is the only trustworthy fabric of the affections. So-called LOVE is a delirious inhuman state of mind:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-franklin/when-all-is-said-and-done-friendship-is-the-only-trustworthy-fabric/) [Miles Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-franklin/) > [There are only two kinds of parents. Those who think their offspring can do nothing wrong, and those who think they can do nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-franklin/there-are-only-two-kinds-of-parents-those-who-think-their-offspring/) [Miles Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-franklin/) > [“There is any amount of love and good in the world, but you must search for it. Being misunderstood is one of the trials…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-franklin/there-is-any-amount-of-love-and-good-in-the-world-but-you-must-search/) [Miles Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-franklin/) > [Men always say there is no female Shakespeare.' 'Humph! You study the fellows who say that, and you'll see they are a long way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-franklin/men-always-say-there-is-no-female-shakespeare-humph-you-study-the/) [Miles Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-franklin/) > [Heed the spark or you may dread the fire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-franklin/heed-the-spark-or-you-may-dread-the-fire/) [Miles Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-franklin/) > [“When an emergency arose that necessiated Uncle Jay-Jay to shoe a horse himself, I always manipulated the bellows. He was always so exacting that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-franklin/when-an-emergency-arose-that-necessiated-uncle-jay-jay-to-shoe-a/) [Miles Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-franklin/) > [Before I was ten I became critical of the anthropomorphic God as interpreted in the churches. I did not warm to One thus revealed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-franklin/before-i-was-ten-i-became-critical-of-the-anthropomorphic-god-as/) [Miles Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-franklin/) [Explore all 38 Miles Franklin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-franklin/) ## More Autobiographies quotes > [I like to read. Autobiographies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-jackson/i-like-to-read-autobiographies/) [Janet Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-jackson/) > ['Walking and Talking' is my autobiography. It's best to do it that way, rather than spend months writing a book that then ends up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-burke/walking-and-talking-is-my-autobiography-it-s-best-to-do-it-that-way/) [Kathy Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-burke/) > [I do read a lot of autobiographies and biographies but from people who are not in my field - older women, older artists, Miles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viv-albertine/i-do-read-a-lot-of-autobiographies-and-biographies-but-from-people/) [Viv Albertine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viv-albertine/) > [Great nations write their autobiographies in three manuscripts - the book of their deeds, the book of their words and the book of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/great-nations-write-their-autobiographies-in-three-manuscripts-the/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [If you take the autobiographies of great sports people, they are almost always the same. They start with zero; they are always ambitious, know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petr-cech/if-you-take-the-autobiographies-of-great-sports-people-they-are/) [Petr Cech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petr-cech/) > [“I knew that if I allowed fear to overtake me, my journey was doomed. Fear, to a great extent, is born of a story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-strayed/i-knew-that-if-i-allowed-fear-to-overtake-me-my-journey-was-doomed-2/) [Cheryl Strayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-strayed/) > [Autobiographies give you the picture of the person behind the image on screen, because that's never really you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepti-naval/autobiographies-give-you-the-picture-of-the-person-behind-the-image/) [Deepti Naval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepti-naval/) > [I've read autobiographies from Per Mertesacker, Jaap Stam, Sol Campbell, John Terry... you name them, I've read them. It helps me improve my game,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/i-ve-read-autobiographies-from-per-mertesacker-jaap-stam-sol-campbell/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) > [“It's so embarrassing to think that someone is actually interested in what you're thinking. And in that regard, it's almost unbelievable that autobiographies are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oddn-eir/it-s-so-embarrassing-to-think-that-someone-is-actually-interested-in/) [Oddný Eir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oddn-eir/) > [I don't want to know about my biggest idols. I don't want to read their autobiographies, I don't want to find out what they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-want-to-know-about-my-biggest-idols-i-don-t-want-to-read/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One of the autobiographies I really liked was Bob Dylan's. It was interesting because he didn't do it in a linear fashion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-bryan/one-of-the-autobiographies-i-really-liked-was-bob-dylan-s-it-was/) [Daniel Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-bryan/) > [I love memoirs and autobiographies in general.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-davern/i-love-memoirs-and-autobiographies-in-general/) [Brett Davern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-davern/) > [Over the years your bodies become walking autobiographies, telling friends and strangers alike of the minor and major stresses of your lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-ferguson/over-the-years-your-bodies-become-walking-autobiographies-telling/) [Marilyn Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-ferguson/) > [I like autobiographies. I wouldn't mind making one of those.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-livingston/i-like-autobiographies-i-wouldn-t-mind-making-one-of-those/) [Shaun Livingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-livingston/) > [Our bodies are apt to be our autobiographies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/our-bodies-are-apt-to-be-our-autobiographies/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 59 Autobiographies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autobiographies/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What I absorbed from autobiographies was not how to be great so much as the littleness of the great.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Miles Franklin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-franklin/what-i-absorbed-from-autobiographies-was-not-how-to-be-great-so-much/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Autobiographies" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-franklin/what-i-absorbed-from-autobiographies-was-not-how-to-be-great-so-much/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/480/miles-franklin-17083_autobiographies_what-i-absorbed-from-autobiographies-was_454239.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/480/miles-franklin-17083_autobiographies_what-i-absorbed-from-autobiographies-was_454239.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/480/miles-franklin-17083_autobiographies_what-i-absorbed-from-autobiographies-was_454239.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What I absorbed from autobiographies was not how to be great so much as the littleness of the great.” — Miles Franklin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Miles Franklin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-franklin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What I absorbed from autobiographies was...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-franklin/what-i-absorbed-from-autobiographies-was-not-how-to-be-great-so-much/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-franklin/what-i-absorbed-from-autobiographies-was-not-how-to-be-great-so-much/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```